(WSB photo from 2012)
For the past few years, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market has moved out into California Avenue SW once a year, during the Junction Association‘s fall Harvest Festival. Starting this summer – that’ll be the market’s new permanent location, year-round. As announced on the WSFM website, the move is set for Sunday, June 14th:

We’re taking it to the street! Join us on this historic day at the beloved West Seattle Farmers Market.

Our first year, in 1999, was the beginning of a neighborhood institution; a place for families and neighbors to connect with local farms and get the freshest, most delicious fruits and vegetables – and many other wonderful farm products and local foods.

This year, in 2015, after much planning and hard work, we’re moving the market to the street, where we’ll have more room and an improved layout, and can create an even more inviting Sunday morning destination in the heart of the Junction.

The market will be on California between Alaska and Oregon – both of those east-west streets will remain open on market days. Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association says that merchants are supportive of this – they’ve been in discussion for months – and that the launch day on June 14th will be “a very festive day” with music in the streets – more details to come.

ADDED WEDNESDAY: In response to some questions in comments – Chris Curtis of the WSFM says the street closure is envisioned as 7 am-4 pm, and reminds us that there will be more parking, since the lot that’s currently used will be open to vehicles again. Street-closure costs related to this are being born by market management, according to WSJA’s Melrose.

(Photo courtesy Sod House Bakery)
Thinking about going to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market tomorrow? If you do, look for a new vendor that is doubly local – not only is Sod House Bakery selling its wares in West Seattle, it’s also owned by West Seattleites. We asked them for a little info, after learning about their debut last week:

Sod House Bakery is Evan Radick and Nina Faccone’s small bakery project based out of West Seattle. Last fall we realized our dream of many years by starting our own bakery and are building it from the ground up. We just became a vendor at the West Seattle Farmers Market, and hope to be selling all around Seattle this summer season. We make fun, delicious pastries like pop tarts, cookies, hand pies, and mini cakes.

12:51 PM: Went to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market to check in on two benefits we’ve mentioned in recent days – and found both very busy! Above, Sophia’s Lemonade Stand outside KeyBank at California/Alaska, with lemonade and Bakery Nouveau treats, available by donation to help 7-year-old cancer patient Sophia Thompson and her family. (More about their story here – including a link to donate if you can’t get to the stand before 2 pm.) And inside the market itself, long lines for River Farm Organic Produce – you can’t miss the yellow-topped tent:

As reported here on Friday, a family friend e-mailed to make sure everyone knew this Central Washington farming family had lost a home in the big Taylor Bridge Fire – but they made it to the market and, since the farm itself was spared, have lots of vegetables to sell. The market continues, as usual, till 2 pm.

(Photo by Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times – republished with permission)
This Sunday, when you see River Farm Organic Produce at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, you might consider buying something extra – we’ve just learned that their family has lost a home in the big Taylor Bridge Fire in Central Washington. An anonymous family friend e-mailed to let us know about this, and to say that River Farm does plan to be at the WSFM this Sunday. We have since confirmed this with market management, which explained that the family farm itself was spared, as was the home of the farm family’s patriarch, but the fire destroyed the home of his daughter and her husband. In addition to supporting them directly, we’re told they also will benefit from the Neighborhood Farmers’ Market Alliance “Good Farmer Fund,” which helps with emergency relief for vendors hit by crises like this. (You can donate to that fund online here.)

We missed today’s window for the daily events preview – you can always check the WSB West Seattle Events calendar on the rare occasions we skip a daily list – but just back from the West Seattle Farmers’ Market and vicinity. Eric Freeman is playing on the west side of the market today; while we photographed him, a man came up and informed us that he’s “the best busker in West Seattle.” As always, the market otherwise is brimming with everything – literally) from soup to nuts; we came home with a giant purple cabbage, $3 any size, from Alm Hill Gardens in the southwest corner, where they’re also selling tulips:

As always, the Farmers’ Market is open till 2. Nearby, it’s the second Sunday at California/Edmunds for a new food truck operated by two West Seattleites, Erik Gust and David Rodriguez, Contigo, which offers “modern Mexican”:

The Contigo owners’ announcement also mentioned that their food is gluten-free.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Yes, market managers have confirmed they’re open. 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska. The illness-delayed debut of Honest Biscuits is promised (see this tweet), too. (Added: West 5 is there selling soup – check the pic in this tweet!)

BENEFIT ADOPT-A-THON CONTINUES: At Kitty Harbor (3422 Harbor SW), it’s the second day of a special offseason cat adopt-a-thon – also a benefit for fire victim Teri Ensley and Furry Faces Foundation, noon-6 pm. “Moto,” above, is one of the two-dozen-plus cats who were still awaiting a home by late Saturday afternoon, after more than 30 others were adopted! Here’s our Saturday night story.

BOOK SIGNING: Metropolitan Market says LaDonna Rose Gundersen, who fishes in Alaska as well as writes, will be at the Admiral store today from 12-2 pm to sign her new cookbook “Salmon, Desserts, & Friends.”

And many Junction shops will be participating in one more Shop Late Thursday before Christmas, till 9 pm. Some have deals in the WSB Holiday Shopping Guide (find it here). More to come!

ADDED 8:28 PM: Lights adorned the nighttime market, and not only from the official Junction Christmas Tree:

On the WSB Facebook wall, Tina mentioned that she’s from Germany and said, “The Christmas markets in my country are magical places, bordered by booths of every kind of holiday cheer, supported by ample supply of ‘gluehwein’ (hot & spiced cider). Tonight looked to me like a seed of something special like that.

One more reminder – since the next two Sundays are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, there will be no West Seattle Farmers’ Market until Sunday, January 8th.

As of a little more than an hour ago, Sustainable West Seattle was already on its fifth box of Christmas lights brought in for recycling at its West Seattle Farmers’ Market booth. Till 2 pm, you’ll find them there – along with the meters comparing LED lights to incandescent:

Just around the corner from the Farmers’ Market, the Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) Belgian-mule-drawn carriage rides (free!) – we caught up with them as they headed north on 44th before turning onto Alaska by the market:

The carriage rides continue till 3, as do take-it-yourself Santa photos at City Mouse. One Farmers’ Market reminder – NO market the next two Sundays, since it’s Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, BUT there’s a special nighttime edition at Junction Plaza Park this Thursday (December 22), 5-8 pm. (Sustainable WS plans to roast chestnuts, providing leader Christina Hahs’ test run tonight goes well!)

4:23 PM UPDATE: Got the final tally from the Christmas-lights-recycling collection:

That photo’s courtesy of Chas Redmond, who staffed the SWS booth today with Hahs (in the photo) and Patrick Dunn (best known as award-winning manager of the WS Tool Library). By 2 pm, he says, they had filled the pickup-truck bed with boxes of ready-to-recycle lights, and they had finished the old-vs.-new lights comparison: “The results of our demo showing the electricity draw of conventional, incandescent mini’s and the LEDs – with a string of 100 LED lights and another string of 75 incandescent mini lights running for three hours, the LED lights drew 3 watts and the incandescents (even though there were fewer) drew 300 watts – roughly 1 watt/hour for the LED string and 100 watts/hour for the incandescent string.” One more sustainability P.S. – for Christmas-giving/stocking-stuffing, the Tool Library is suggesting gift memberships (raffle ticket included!).

Yet another West Seattle holiday tradition – handmade wreaths from Pathfinder K-8. Their booth made its WS Farmers’ Market debut today, with Yumi and Willow displaying two of this year’s creations. You can find them under a canopy by the KeyBank west-side doors (right next to the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, selling tickets for next Saturday’s pancake breakfast – more on that later).

P.S. Yes, they’ll be selling wreaths every Sunday between now and Christmas (12/4, 12/11, 12/18) – as long as supplies last! As the school website points out, the wreath sales have been going on for almost 20 years.

Though it’s not out of the 30s yet, it’s sunny, and it’s a lively morning at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. Above, City Councilmembers Sally Clark and Sally Bagshaw, making another stop on their citywide conversation tour as “The Sallys.” They’ll pour you a free cup of Rockridge Orchards cider (while supplies last!). As for topics, you don’t have to stick to these, but – Clark chairs the Committee on the Built Environment, which tackles issues like zoning and development, and Bagshaw chairs the Parks Committee. Meantime, you’ll also find the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at the market today, promoting their upcoming holiday Pancake Breakfast:

It’s 7-11 am Saturday, December 3rd, at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds) and you can buy your tickets at their booth today for the discount price of $5 adults, $3 kids (adults will be $6 at the door). Santa photos are included in the price – and you’re asked to bring new, unwrapped Toys for Tots donations.

Two chances this week to talk with City Councilmembers in West Seattle:

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen and Sally Bagshaw are on the DNDC meeting agenda tomorrow night (7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW) for a discussion about the “boulevard” concept for Delridge Way SW.

‘THE SALLYS’ AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET: Councilmembers Bagshaw and Sally Clark have been visiting neighborhoods in tandem as “The Sallys,” in community-conversation format, and just announced a West Seattle stop this Sunday: 10-11:30 am at the WS Farmers’ Market (44th/Alaska). The announcement says they “will host a booth and hope Seattleites will stop by to talk about local issues.” Free cider while it lasts. You’re invited to RSVP, though it’s not required (here’s the link).

Sights and sounds, we should say – Pourquoi Pas is playing at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today. Warm melodies for a day that’s warmer than it looks, if you haven’t been out yet. And to get into an even-more-tropical mood, notice the parrots atop the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle tent:

However, Mike LaFranchi is pouring coffee beneath the tent, not piña coladas. (You can find granitas at the Rockridge Orchards booth, though.) More colorful sights – plants that don’t need blossoms to show color:

But of course flowers are available too. Even tulips, at this relatively late date:

As for today’s veggies – if there’s still some left, we highly recommend the giant romaine heads ($3) at Willie Green’s! The market’s open till 2 pm, as always on Sundays, 44th/Alaska in The Junction.

Every time we stop by the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on Sunday and see live music, we’ve wished it had been announced ahead of time so we could have mentioned it here. Tonight – there’s advance notice! Great news for an expected-to-be-sunny Sunday market – market manager Catherine Burke sends word that tomorrow they’ll have “folksy MOZO music, a Tool Library demo and a new farmer, Silver Springs Creamery (fresh cow and goat milk!)” A tweet from the West Seattle Tool Library itself elaborates on the demonstration: Sewing machines making produce bags. As always, year-round, the WS Farmers’ Market is at 44th/Alaska.

VALENTINE’S DAY AT WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: That’s the sign at last week’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market promoting what you will find there today – a whole lotta love (explained here). 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska.

OPEN HOUSE:Little Pilgrim School, a program for 2 – 5 year old children that’s in the Fauntleroy Church building (9140 California SW), has an open house 11 am-1 pm today.. Stop by to tour school spaces, meet the teachers, ask questions and pick up enrollment information for fall classes.

ALSO IN FAUNTLEROY: Filming of the independent movie “After the Ghost” is scheduled to continue at a home north of the ferry dock today/tonight (details here).

(WSB photo of promotional sign at West Seattle Farmers’ Market last Sunday)
There’s a whole lot of after-Christmas shopping to be done right here on the peninsula. (We’re compiling a list of sales/specials to publish tomorrow morning, so if you have or know of one, share the news!) One place you might be surprised to find specials, West Seattle Farmers’ Market. It’s open 10 am-2 pm tomorrow as always, and the market will observe Boxing Day in a unique way. Explains Chris Curtis: “Farmers have been encouraged to provide good deals in boxes all day long to market shoppers.” One more bonus: Stop by the information booth to ask about free Market Bucks to “spend on the spot … while supplies last,” according to the Seattle Farmers Markets page on Facebook. (If you’re new or visiting, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is at 44th/Alaska.)

The headline comes from the subject line of the e-mail in which Shelleyshared the photo. As we had tweeted from the West Seattle Farmers’ Market earlier, violinist Pasquale was serenading shoppers today – and Shelley caught this scene of young fans who decided to savor the concert. (We last saw him in The Junction in June, when he played at the dedication of Junction Plaza Park – which by the way will be the site of this year’s West Seattle Junction Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4th, first time since 2006 that the official tree’s been on that site.)

The first day of Pacific Standard Time dawns to spectacular sunshine, and you have many reasons to get out of the house, among them: Celebrate Puget Sound’s resident orcas, and their traditional fall return to the central sound, at the first-ever OrcaFest presented by Killer Whale Tales and The Whale Trail, 11 am-3 pm at Alki Bathhouse … Also on the West Seattle waterfront: The WS Wildlife Habitat Project‘s native-plant demo garden at Seacrest needs some fall love, 10 am … Two extra reasons to go to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market: Among the local groups scheduled to be there are West Seattle Hi-Yu (selling these ornaments) and Kiwanis Club of West Seattle (selling tickets for the December 4th pancake breakfast) … Furry Faces Foundation has a wine and art fundraiser this afternoon, 3-6 pm, at Ola Salon – read all about it (including winery links) in the WSB Forums … Commemorate the centennial of women’s voting rights in our state with West Seattle Democratic Women, planning a movie and discussion at Admiral Theater (new start time, 4:30 pm) …

That’s former West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival Junior Queen Kailin Jo Alexander Spencer with her creation from the Zucchini 500 under way at West Seattle Farmers’ Market right now – she came over to the neighboring West Seattle Junction Car Show to show it to us. Here’s the table at the market where kids are welcome to stop, make and race their own:

If you haven’t heard about it yet, the annual Eat Local Now! dinner is coming up September 30th at Herban Feast‘s SODO Park – it’s all about local food – to celebrate, and educate! WSB is among the co-sponsors again this year; tickets are $35 adults/$10 kids, available here.

(Thanks to Mike S for sharing the link to that recent Alki time-lapse by YT member ‘ryanresella‘)
The forecast looks a little sketchy – but if you still want to squeeze in some water time before it’s too late, this is the fourth-to-last day of scheduled operations for Colman Pool, the outdoor saltwater swimming pool in Lincoln Park – after tomorrow, it closes except for one last “post-season weekend” next Saturday-Sunday (here’s the schedule) … And if you want to think summer till the very end, check out the season-ending sale today and tomorrow at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor), whose proprietor Greg Whittaker says they’re clearing out to get ready for ski/snowboard seasons – used and new items up to 50% off, including kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, inline skates, and accessories; call 935-SNOW if you want to check something out before you go (3602 SW Alaska) … This afternoon, West Seattle Nursery presents another fundraising Beer Fest – 1 to 4 pm, raising money to fight multiple sclerosis … And of course, as is the case every Sunday year-round, you can shop the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska) – find the Ripe ‘n’ Ready “fresh sheet” here! … More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

ADMIRAL SAFEWAY SHUTTERED – BUT TEMPORARY PHARMACY TO OPEN: Just in case you missed the past three weeks of warnings - Admiral Safeway is now closed. Construction of its big new replacement is scheduled to start next month. Meantime, the temporary pharmacy in a trailer in its parking lot is supposed to open today.

WATER SAFETY DAY AT LIGHTHOUSE: A first-of-its-kind event is planned at Alki Point’s historic lighthouse; details here

FINAL PERFORMANCES FOR ‘HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING’ AND ‘THE BIRDS’: The former is presented by Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) at West Seattle High School Theater, the latterby ArtsWest, and both are onstage at 3 this afternoon.

FRIENDS OF LINCOLN PARK: 9 am, meet at the kiosk in the north parking lot (across from Rose St) to join a work party to help protect this green treasure. Bring garden gloves and hand clippers (extras available).

The sun that graced the West Seattle Farmers’ Market from the start last weekend may not be there YET today, but the vendors certainly will be. This week’s Ripe and Ready List promises lots of new tree-fruit offerings, among other things. 10 am-2 pm as always, 44th/Alaska. (Also new this week – Friends of Seattle Public Library will be tabling, along with some of the other great local groups you’ll meet at the market every week.) … West Seattle’s newest market, Highland Park Sunday Market, also is scheduled to be in session today – promising (per its FB page):

While you’re at West Seattle Summer Fest, you can veer over to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market – under way till 2 pm as usual – where we found those lovely carrots. High season for flowers too:

A bit breezy today and certainly chillier than the past two days, so till the sun comes out, you might consider bringing a sweater. On our way to The Junction, we stopped at the second-ever Highland Park Sunday Market, also continuing till 2, with new additions this week:

That’s some of what’s being offered by the Street Treats truck – operator Diane’s family lives in West Seattle, so she’s virtually local. Also there today, a booth full of gorgeous produce:

The Highland Park market is at 12th/Holden, in the parking lot of HP Improvement Club.

If you’re from France … and you’re in the baked-goods business … where else would you want to visit in Seattle, but Bakery Nouveau, on a Sunday morning when you can also browse the West Seattle Farmers’ Market? While we were in The Junction this morning for the Health Fair, Chris Curtis from the Neighborhood Farmers’ Market Alliance – WSFM’s parent organization – let us know about the VIP visit. So we caught up with City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and two visitors from France -Serge Kreins from Biofournil (left) and Jean-Yves Fouché of Biofournil-owned Boulangerie Nantaise, which has a Belltown store. Nantaise means “from Nantes” – and Nantes happens to be Seattle’s sister city (as commemorated with the park name along Admiral Way – and by visits like this!). ADDED 10 PM: After Councilmember Rasmussen traveled to Nantes last month, he wrote about it on his “council blog” – both reports are linked here.